Dubai Municipality has awarded five major contracts under the second phase of its Tasreef Programme, committing AED2.5bn to expand and reinforce the emirate’s stormwater drainage network.

The move follows directives from Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to strengthen critical infrastructure and ensure drainage systems are fit to serve Dubai for the next century. The newly announced package will cover 30 key districts across approximately 430mn sq m, supporting a projected population of three million residents by 2040.

Contracts have been signed with international contractors including DeTech Contracting and China State Construction Engineering Corporation, alongside specialist consultants. The scope comprises three construction agreements and two design and study contracts focused on selected locations across the city.

The latest awards build on Phase One allocations announced in April 2025 and form part of a phased delivery strategy aimed at improving flood resilience amid rapid urbanisation and intensifying climate pressures. Dubai Municipality said the projects are aligned with the objectives of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and broader national climate neutrality ambitions.

Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, described Tasreef as one of the emirate’s flagship infrastructure initiatives, designed to embed long-term sustainability into urban planning. He said the programme seeks to establish an integrated stormwater management system that enhances preparedness, safeguards resources and improves quality of life.

Adel Al Marzouqi, CEO of the Waste and Sewerage Agency, added that Phase Two will raise network capacity in priority areas, improve service continuity and elevate safety standards.

Among the headline schemes is the construction of a main tunnel up to four metres in diameter, linking communities along Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Yalayis Road to the primary drainage backbone. A separate 27 km integrated network will extend between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Jamayel Road, incorporating advanced tunnels to protect a strategic industrial and logistics corridor.

Additional works include a new drainage tunnel and pumping station along Dubai–Al Ain Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, as well as a stormwater collection lake. Design contracts have also been issued for an integrated stormwater and groundwater system in Al Marmoom and Saih Al Salam, connected to the main line along Al Qudra Road.

The inaugural IFAT Saudi Arabia aims to accelerate investment in sustainable waste and water infrastructure across the Kingdom. The event will focus on knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and sector collaboration through a strategic summit and a CPD-certified conference programme.

Taking place from 26-28 January at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center, IFAT Saudi Arabia is designed to support national development goals and market readiness. The Summit and conference stages will examine how policy, capital, and technology can enhance waste and water systems, promote circular economy models, and strengthen long-term environmental resilience.

“Strengthening waste management systems is a key priority for supporting environmental protection, operational efficiency and resource recovery,” said Dr. Abdullah Al Sebaei, CEO of the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN). “IFAT Saudi Arabia creates a focused environment for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, review international experience and align on strategic approaches that support the Kingdom’s regulatory direction and circular economy ambitions.”

The invite-only IFAT Saudi Arabia Summit on 26 January will bring together senior government officials, regulators, investors, and industry leaders to discuss the strategic direction of the Kingdom’s waste and water sectors. Sessions will focus on impact investment, public-private partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and future readiness, featuring regional and international case studies and policy insights.

Key discussions include the Leaders Panel, which will assess the evolving waste and water economy in Saudi Arabia, and the Water Security Panel, led by the Saudi Water Authority, focusing on governance and integrated strategies for national water security. “A secure and resilient water sector requires long-term planning, strong governance and close coordination across public and private stakeholders,” said Eng. Mamdooh Alshuaibi, Vice President of Sustainability and Water Sector Services at the Saudi Water Authority. “IFAT Saudi Arabia provides a timely setting to discuss policy priorities, investment frameworks and technical approaches that support efficient water use, system resilience and sustainable service delivery across the Kingdom.”

Complementing the Summit, the CPD-certified conference programme will run across two thematic stages. Orange Stage will focus on waste management, recycling, and circular economy practices, featuring sessions on smart municipal solid waste systems, operational efficiency, and the role of digitalization and cybersecurity. Highlights include a panel marking the launch of the World Bank’s latest report on Solid Waste Management in MENA, in collaboration with the International Solid Waste Association.

Blue Stage, running 27–28 January, will explore water resilience, desalination, reuse, and digital transformation for utilities and industrial users. Sessions include a panel on Middle East water resilience organized by German Water Partnership, a brine mining case study led by NEOM, and discussions on financing and PPP models led by the International Water Association.

By connecting policy, investment, and applied solutions, IFAT Saudi Arabia aims to drive informed decision-making, cross-sector collaboration, and practical delivery across the Kingdom’s environmental ecosystem.

The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), overseen by the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), will unveil three new awardees for its Sixth Cycle grants at a press conference on 21 January at the NCM headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

The selected projects align with UAEREP’s key research priorities, which underpin the programme’s 10-year roadmap: Optimised Seeding Materials, Autonomous UAS, Limited-Area Climate Interventions, and Advanced Models, Software, and Data. Each awardee will present an overview of their winning proposal, highlighting their scientific methodology, expected outcomes, and potential contributions to global water security.

Research into optimised seeding materials aims to develop advanced cloud-seeding substances and innovative delivery techniques to enhance rainfall stimulation. Limited-area climate interventions explore localised methods such as solar radiation management and exploiting regional atmospheric conditions to improve cloud formation and precipitation.

Meanwhile, work on advanced models, software, and data focuses on creating sophisticated forecasting tools and decision-support systems that leverage data assimilation and machine learning to refine cloud dynamics modelling and operational efficiency.

Each grant recipient will receive up to US$1.5mn (AED5.511mn) over three years, with a maximum annual allocation of US$550,000. The funding is intended to accelerate next-generation rain enhancement technologies and address emerging challenges in water security worldwide, positioning the UAE at the forefront of climate innovation.

The announcement continues UAEREP’s commitment to fostering scientific research that supports sustainable water resources and strengthens the country’s expertise in cloud-seeding and rainfall enhancement technologies.

Ecolab, a global leader in sustainability solutions for water, hygiene and infection prevention, has signed a non-binding MoU with the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) aimed at accelerating water innovation and supporting the Kingdom’s long-term sustainability ambitions.

The agreement reflects a shared commitment to advancing more efficient, resilient and circular water systems in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The MoU was formalised during the US-Saudi Water Summit 2025, held last month in Palo Alto, California. The summit brought together international water sector leaders to discuss emerging challenges, technological advances and collaborative models capable of transforming water management across the Kingdom. Against a backdrop of rising demand, climate pressures and industrial expansion, the agreement highlights the growing importance of public-private partnerships in securing Saudi Arabia’s water future.

Under the MoU, SWA and Ecolab will collaborate to position sustainable water management as a strategic enabler of national development. By improving water efficiency and reuse, the partnership aims to help safeguard scarce water resources while enhancing water quality across key sectors. These efforts are also expected to deliver wider environmental and economic benefits, including reduced energy consumption, lower CO2 emissions and improved operational efficiency for industrial and commercial operators.

The framework for cooperation includes the exchange of technical insights and best practices across sectors such as data centres, refineries, petrochemicals, heavy industry, desalination, manufacturing, food and beverage, and hospitality.

Key areas of partnership

The collaboration also covers support for water source selection, regulatory development and performance monitoring, alongside workshops focused on advanced digital solutions such as smart water systems and predictive maintenance. In addition, the partners will explore pilot projects within Saudi industrial cities, applying Ecolab’s global technologies under local operating conditions, and identify opportunities to support innovation initiatives, including Rabigh Oasis, the Global Water Innovation Prize (GWIP), collaborative research and development roundtables, and broader innovation promotion programmes.

Ecolab has maintained a strong presence in Saudi Arabia for more than four decades through its Nalco Water business, supporting major industrial players in optimising water use. Today, its solutions are deployed across energy, manufacturing, food and hospitality, helping organisations conserve water, reduce energy consumption and strengthen long-term business resilience while meeting sustainability goals.

His Excellency Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, President of the Saudi Water Authority, highlighted the partnership as a step toward building a world-class water sector that safeguards resources, supports national growth, and demonstrates how innovation and sustainability can secure water for future generations in line with Vision 2030.

Stefan Umiastowski, Ecolab’s Senior Vice President & CEO for India, Middle East, and Africa, said, “This collaboration represents an important step in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 commitment to long-term water sustainability in a region where water is one of the most critical resources. As digitalization and AI reshape economies and create new demand patterns, intelligent water management has become essential for sustainable growth. By combining Ecolab's global innovation capabilities with the SWA’s vision and local expertise, we're creating a powerful platform to scale water transformation across the Kingdom's most strategic industries.”

Overall, the MoU demonstrates how closer collaboration between government and industry can translate sustainability ambitions into measurable outcomes, supporting the transition towards Net Zero while enhancing industrial competitiveness and water security across Saudi Arabia.